Senegal
Senegal is a former French colony in West Africa that borders the Atlantic Ocean, Mauritania in the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south. It has a total area of 196,722 km2 and owes its name to the Senegal River, which marks the eastern and northern borders of the country. With a GDP of 24.13 billion USD and a population of 15.8 million, it is classified as a lower-middle-income country, according to the World Bank. UNESCO reported school enrollment at the primary level at 81% in 2018, indicating a slight decrease from 2017 (when enrollment was 85.6%). School enrollment among women is higher than among men, with 86% of women enrolled, compared to 76% of men.
According to the United Nations, “more than half of children who are not enrolled in school live in sub-Saharan Africa.” This is due to the lack of qualified teachers and the poor school conditions. These factors are further aggravated in rural areas, where it is necessary to take the differences opportunities boys and girls have into account.
After learning about Yakaar Africa, an association dedicated to different fields such as health and hygiene, orchards and farms, education and culture, and local industries, Océano Solidario began its collaboration in Senegal.
At Océano Solidario we hope that in the near future we will be able to provide university scholarships to young, motivated students in developing countries yearning to further their education.
The possibility of collaborating in Senegal comes after meeting Yakaar Africa, an association that has been working in the country since 2006 in different fields: health and hygiene, orchards and farms, educationand culture and local industries.
At Oceano Solidario we hope that in the near future, we will be able to provide college scholarships to young people from developing countries who have great interest in learning but few resources.